54 



The Ferns 



in woods in France, or in England or Ireland. It seems to 

 have become more widely diffused in the last ten years. I 

 know quite two dozen stations for it, mostly in the Town 

 parish. 



8. Asplenium-marinum or the Sea Spleenwort loves the 

 roofs of caves within reach of the spray of the sea. For- 

 tunately there are unapproachable spots on our coast where it 

 can be preserved, but any unfortunate plant having the auda- 

 city to grow within arm's reach is soon rooted out, even 

 laddeis being pressed into the service of the destroyer. 



9. Asplenium Lanceolatum or Lanceolate Spleenwort is so 

 called from the shape of the fronds which are narrow at the 

 base, widening above, and then tapering to a point. This 

 species is very rare in England, being confined to the south- 

 western peninsula. With us. it is very common, growing 

 between the stones in the walls all round the cliffs, as well as 

 in the crevices between the rocky masses along the south coast. 

 It is abundant in the western parishes in the hedge-rows, and 

 where growing luxuriantly the fronds exceed a foot in length. 



The variety Microdon was found in Guernsey ; perhaps the 

 only ones now to be had are those cultivated from the original 

 wild ones, though as this is a distinct and permanent variety 

 not a casual freak, and had obtained so firm a footing as to 

 have spread to a considerable extent (as I learn from one of 

 the ladies who discovered it) there is a great chance of fresh 

 plants springing from the old roots, so that some diligent 

 searcher may yet be able to bring wild specimens and exhibit 

 them to this society.* 



10. Asplenium Adiantum -nigrum or Black Maidenhair 

 Spleenwort has fronds of nearly a triangular shape, and in 

 some cases the Lanceolate is so much like it as to be distin- 

 guished only on close inspection. This species is one of our 



*A beautiful specimen was found 1884, growing wild at St. Peter's- 

 in-the-Wood, which proves that this pretty variety has not quite dis- 

 appeared. 



